It is a ritual that's repeated every year at the very end of May. The minutiae are always the same: Anticipation and mass hysteria in the build-up, analysis and ecstasy or heartbreak at the end. UEFA, the press and the 'stakeholders' drive the narrative. It's about that one all-consuming match, the ultimate centre piece, the Champions League final.

This year that mass hysteria has been taken to a new level: Liverpool will play the European Cup final on Saturday in the Ukrainian capital against Real Madrid, the kings of the continental game, and from across the globe the club's fans have set their minds on 90 minutes of utter delirium in Kiev. There is, however, a complication: The host city is not easy to reach. In fact, it's rapidly become a nightmare destination.

"I gambled and booked my flight and accommodation before Liverpool had secured their spot in the final," says Lars Frosland, a fan from Norway. "However, the hotel prices were insane at that time too, so I went for Airbnb to a fraction of the cost. The craziest or most emotional thing was waiting for ticket ballot details."

Liverpool were allocated 16,626 tickets by UEFA for the final, prices ranging from £61 to £394. On Ticketbis, tickets were offered up to a staggering £14,000. Liverpool fans also faced soaring airfares and inflated hotel rates, with return flights to the Ukraine easily costing more than £1,000.

Still, they plotted their way to Kiev. They slogged their way around the continent, by airplane, by bus, by train, by car. "Our flight was diverted to Rome," says Arjun Gupta, a Liverpool fan from India. "The visa on arrival in Kiev took five and a half hours to process after which we found out that our luggage was still in Rome. We left New Delhi on Tuesday at 10pm. We stayed inside airports and flights for 40 hours straight without seeing the outside world. For two hours of football. Madness."

Fans happily fork out money to attend the climax of the European club season. UEFA considers supporters as 'fan customers'. That corporatism, a worldview envisages a different fandom: A middle class of lawyers, doctors and architects and their families, who go to the ground to enjoy a day out, but who are, in general, not emotionally invested in the game. Liverpool fans are different: Football matters for them and triggers deep emotions.

"UEFA should definitely consider logistics and infrastructure more," argues Frosland. "The city must be able to handle intense flight traffic and 100,000 visitors. Are there enough hotels? Will the airport handle the flight traffic? I am in favour of not going for Paris, London, Berlin every year, but UEFA must make sure the final city is convenient for supporters."

Behind closed doors, UEFA has discussed taking the final outside of Europe - to New York, to the Gulf. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin repeated on Thursday that it is a 'theoretical possibility'. The idea is very marketable - and the fans will repeat the ritual, but perhaps it will all feel a little more hollow.

Fans happily fork out money to attend the climax of the European club season.

It is a ritual that's repeated every year at the very end of May. The minutiae are always the same: Anticipation and mass hysteria in the build-up, analysis and ecstasy or heartbreak at the end. UEFA, the press and the 'stakeholders' drive the narrative. It's about that one all-consuming match, the ultimate centre piece, the Champions League final. This year that mass hysteria has been taken to a new level: Liverpool will play the European Cup final on Saturday in the Ukrainian capital against Real Madrid, the kings of the continental game, and from across the globe the club's fans have set their minds on 90 minutes of utter delirium in Kiev. There is, however, a complication: The host city is not easy to reach. In fact, it's rapidly become a nightmare destination. "I gambled and booked my flight and accommodation before Liverpool had secured their spot in the final," says Lars Frosland, a fan from Norway. "However, the hotel prices were insane at that time too, so I went for Airbnb to a fraction of the cost. The craziest or most emotional thing was waiting for ticket ballot details." Liverpool were allocated 16,626 tickets by UEFA for the final, prices ranging from £61 to £394. On Ticketbis, tickets were offered up to a staggering £14,000. Liverpool fans also faced soaring airfares and inflated hotel rates, with return flights to the Ukraine easily costing more than £1,000. Still, they plotted their way to Kiev. They slogged their way around the continent, by airplane, by bus, by train, by car. "Our flight was diverted to Rome," says Arjun Gupta, a Liverpool fan from India. "The visa on arrival in Kiev took five and a half hours to process after which we found out that our luggage was still in Rome. We left New Delhi on Tuesday at 10pm. We stayed inside airports and flights for 40 hours straight without seeing the outside world. For two hours of football. Madness." Fans happily fork out money to attend the climax of the European club season. UEFA considers supporters as 'fan customers'. That corporatism, a worldview envisages a different fandom: A middle class of lawyers, doctors and architects and their families, who go to the ground to enjoy a day out, but who are, in general, not emotionally invested in the game. Liverpool fans are different: Football matters for them and triggers deep emotions. "UEFA should definitely consider logistics and infrastructure more," argues Frosland. "The city must be able to handle intense flight traffic and 100,000 visitors. Are there enough hotels? Will the airport handle the flight traffic? I am in favour of not going for Paris, London, Berlin every year, but UEFA must make sure the final city is convenient for supporters." Behind closed doors, UEFA has discussed taking the final outside of Europe - to New York, to the Gulf. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin repeated on Thursday that it is a 'theoretical possibility'. The idea is very marketable - and the fans will repeat the ritual, but perhaps it will all feel a little more hollow.

Champions League final: Fans spend 40 hours in flight to watch 90 minutes of football

AS Roma fought hard till the end but it was not enough to stop Liverpool from advancing to the finals of the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night.

Klopp's team went down 2-4 to a resurgent Roma who were determined to show their home fans they could overcome the 3 goal deficit of the first leg at Anfield as Radja Nainggolan struck late with 2 goals, but it was not to be as the visitors held off to win the game on a 7-6 aggregate.

The five-times European champions&nbsp;will now face holders Real Madrid in the May 26 final.&nbsp;

Liverpool's Sadio Mane struck in the ninth minute to put them in front but an own goal from James Milner put the Reds back. Georginio Wijnaldum header then put Liverpool back in front but Edin Dzeko levelled it for Roma early in the second half.

Nainggolan struck again in the 86th minute to make it tantalising close for the hosts but the Italians left it too late as Liverpool held their nerves to advance with a single goal advantage having won at home with a 5-2 scoreline.

"We are deserved finalists 100 percent," said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp. "You don’t come without luck. We needed it only one time tonight. "The boys deserve it, the character they showed, the football they showed -- it was just crazy. I forgot the score. It was 7-6 right? Unbelievable."

"Liverpool did not rob us of anything. They demonstrated they were a great team with some very great players," Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco said.

"The team that won, won on the details where we were not so good."

Liverpool last won the coveted trophy in 2005 and made it to the finals in 2007, they will now meet Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine later this month.

Liverpool last won the coverted trophy in 2005 and made it to the finals in 2007

AS Roma fought hard till the end but it was not enough to stop Liverpool from advancing to the finals of the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night. Klopp's team went down 2-4 to a resurgent Roma who were determined to show their home fans they could overcome the 3 goal deficit of the first leg at Anfield as Radja Nainggolan struck late with 2 goals, but it was not to be as the visitors held off to win the game on a 7-6 aggregate. The five-times European champions will now face holders Real Madrid in the May 26 final. Liverpool's Sadio Mane struck in the ninth minute to put them in front but an own goal from James Milner put the Reds back. Georginio Wijnaldum header then put Liverpool back in front but Edin Dzeko levelled it for Roma early in the second half. Nainggolan struck again in the 86th minute to make it tantalising close for the hosts but the Italians left it too late as Liverpool held their nerves to advance with a single goal advantage having won at home with a 5-2 scoreline. "We are deserved finalists 100 percent," said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp. "You don’t come without luck. We needed it only one time tonight. "The boys deserve it, the character they showed, the football they showed -- it was just crazy. I forgot the score. It was 7-6 right? Unbelievable." "Liverpool did not rob us of anything. They demonstrated they were a great team with some very great players," Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco said. "The team that won, won on the details where we were not so good." Liverpool last won the coveted trophy in 2005 and made it to the finals in 2007, they will now meet Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine later this month.

Champions League: Liverpool edge out AS Roma, to meet Real Madrid in final

Juventus defender Dani Alves produced an inspired display capped by a stunning volleyed goal in a 2-1 win over AS Monaco on Tuesday that took the Italians into their second Champions League final in three years.

Brazilian Alves crossed for Mario Mandzukic to net the first goal in the semi-final, second leg and then scored the second through an explosive strike which, with Juve leading 2-0 from the first game, effectively finished off the tie by halftime.

Juventus were coasting until Monaco&#39;s exciting 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe pulled a goal back in the 69th minute, ending a run of six successive clean sheets in the competition for the Serie A side and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Tempers then flared when Monaco defender Kamil Glik appeared to stamp on forward Gonzalo Higuain, although the referee took no action against the Pole, leading to a bad-tempered final 20 minutes as Juve ran out comfortable 4-1 winners on aggregate.

They will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, who meet in the other semi at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday with Real leading 3-0. The showpiece match is in Cardiff on June 3.

&quot;I&#39;m very happy with the way the lads played,&quot; said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose side lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the 215 final. &quot;It wasn&#39;t easy to play in the Champions League and they deserved to get to the final.&quot;

Monaco started brightly as they began the thankless task of trying to breach the Juve defence and the home side&#39;s 39-year-old keeper Buffon flapped at Bernardo Silva&#39;s cross in the first minute, although nobody was on hand to take advantage.

Mbappe then hit the inside of the post from a narrow angle, though he was flagged offside, and Radamel Falcao drove over from long range as the visitors pressed forward.

But Juventus always seemed to have too much guile and Higuain had already squandered one chance, with a failed attempt to dink the ball over goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, before Mandzukic put them ahead after 33 minutes.

The move started with Alex Sandro breaking out of defence to charge 50 metres down the left and the ball eventually found Alves who lofted a high cross over from the right.

Mandzukic&#39;s header was brilliantly saved by Subasic but the keeper could do nothing as his fellow Croat fired home the rebound from close range.

Both teams had further chances as the game ebbed and flowed but Juve were sharper in attack and struck again just before halftime.

Alves, who in the previous attack had played in Paulo Dybala with a precision pass, met Subasic&#39;s punched clearance with a full-blooded volley from 25 metres and the ball flew into the net with the goalkeeper out of position.

Juventus were able to drop the pace in the second half and neither Mbappe&#39;s goal nor Glik&#39;s tackle were anything more than mild annoyances as the reigning Italian champions cruised into next month&#39;s final.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

This will be their second final in three years

Juventus defender Dani Alves produced an inspired display capped by a stunning volleyed goal in a 2-1 win over AS Monaco on Tuesday that took the Italians into their second Champions League final in three years. Brazilian Alves crossed for Mario Mandzukic to net the first goal in the semi-final, second leg and then scored the second through an explosive strike which, with Juve leading 2-0 from the first game, effectively finished off the tie by halftime. Juventus were coasting until Monaco's exciting 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe pulled a goal back in the 69th minute, ending a run of six successive clean sheets in the competition for the Serie A side and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Tempers then flared when Monaco defender Kamil Glik appeared to stamp on forward Gonzalo Higuain, although the referee took no action against the Pole, leading to a bad-tempered final 20 minutes as Juve ran out comfortable 4-1 winners on aggregate. They will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, who meet in the other semi at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday with Real leading 3-0. The showpiece match is in Cardiff on June 3. "I'm very happy with the way the lads played," said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose side lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the 215 final. "It wasn't easy to play in the Champions League and they deserved to get to the final." Monaco started brightly as they began the thankless task of trying to breach the Juve defence and the home side's 39-year-old keeper Buffon flapped at Bernardo Silva's cross in the first minute, although nobody was on hand to take advantage. Mbappe then hit the inside of the post from a narrow angle, though he was flagged offside, and Radamel Falcao drove over from long range as the visitors pressed forward. But Juventus always seemed to have too much guile and Higuain had already squandered one chance, with a failed attempt to dink the ball over goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, before Mandzukic put them ahead after 33 minutes. The move started with Alex Sandro breaking out of defence to charge 50 metres down the left and the ball eventually found Alves who lofted a high cross over from the right. Mandzukic's header was brilliantly saved by Subasic but the keeper could do nothing as his fellow Croat fired home the rebound from close range. Both teams had further chances as the game ebbed and flowed but Juve were sharper in attack and struck again just before halftime. Alves, who in the previous attack had played in Paulo Dybala with a precision pass, met Subasic's punched clearance with a full-blooded volley from 25 metres and the ball flew into the net with the goalkeeper out of position. Juventus were able to drop the pace in the second half and neither Mbappe's goal nor Glik's tackle were anything more than mild annoyances as the reigning Italian champions cruised into next month's final. (Reuters)

Inspired Alves leads Juventus into Champions League final